18. How many terms of the A.P. – 6, $-\frac{11}{2}$ , –5, …. are needed to give the sum –25?

First term = a

Common difference = d

Given: a + 5d = 2        . (1)

Product (P) = (a₁a₅a₄) = a (a + 4d) (a + 3d)

Using (1)

P = (2 – 5d) (2 – d) (2 – 2d)

-> = (2 – 5d) (2 –d) (– 2) + (2 – 5d) (2 – 2d) (– 1) + (– 5) (2 – d) (2 – 2d)

$\frac{dP}{dd}$ = –2 [ (d – 2) (5d – 2) + (d – 1) (5d – 2)

a, ar, ar², ….ar⁶³

a+ar+ar² +….+ar⁶³ = 7 [a + ar² + ar⁴ +.+ar⁶²]

$\frac{a\left(1-r^{64}\right)}{\left(1-r\right)}=7\frac{a\left(1-r^{64}\right)}{\left(1-r^2\right)}$            

1 + r = 7

r = 6

S₂₀ = $\frac{20}{2}$ [2a + 19d] = 790

2a + 19d = 79              . (1)

$S_{10}\frac{10}{2}\left[2a+9d\right]=145$

2a + 9d = 29                . (2)

from (1) and (2) a = –8, d = 5

$S_{15}-S_5=\frac{15}{2}\left[2a+14d\right]-\frac{5}{2}\left[2a+4d\right]$

$=\frac{15}{2}\left[-16+70\right]-\frac{5}{2}\left[-16+20\right]$  

= 405 – 10

= 395

3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, . 403 = AP₁

2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, . 401 = AP₂

so common terms A.P.

11, 23, 35, ., 395

->395 = 11 + (n – 1) 12

->395 – 11 = 12 (n – 1)

$\frac{384}{12}=n-1$    

32 = n – 1

n = 33

Sum =  $\frac{33}{2}$ [2×11+ (32)12]

=  $\frac{33}{2}$ [22 + 384]

= 6699

3, a, b, c are in A.P.

a – 3 = b – a